New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-05
HOWELLs,S BOYH0OD.
TIE STORY OF rnK noMEsrcK LITTLE PRINTER.
I'd. ne,eeu. d rne YOUTH. cempanto,. ter Mayla

WD Ro,Oets IN The Youths Companion for xayl2
re%m6er sow Whether r., wa T.. in the
or IN the early Part Of the second winter, which
some money in a printing Oiiice in K I was,
nSush ss so good GpO9r swift and ssn
one day at our cabin and asked could come a no TO
question with any one but myself that must 60 For
me, terrible homesickness fell instantly upon me-
Of absence, pierced my heart, and filed my throat
and blinded me with tears.
The foreman wanted me to go back with him IN tt his
my older brother took me 70 ~, where he was to
Southern Ohio fashion but the clouds had broken
green along Che horizon as we drove on. This color
the Ss hnS sn e be nv cS aSa % Wss
constantly swallowing down with great gulps. We
efforts Of the horse to free himself from the snow
that baled In his h0ois but suffered all the time
All the time had every fact Of the cabin life before
me; what each Of the children was doing especially
was doing, and how at every moment she was look
Ing; saw the wretched little phantasm Of myself
Tho editor to whom my brother delivered over
could not conceive Of me as tragedy he received me
mo in turn to the good with whom was to
board There we're half dozen school girls boarding
there; TOO. and their eayety, when they came in,
The man said supper was about ready, and he
out for myself Uron reflection. I answered that
thought did not want any supper and that must 60
found him at the station, and told him was going
Sr WITH w y clS Of to Sna %e
to leave the question open tn my father came; but in
my own mind it was closed.
My father suggested however something that had
not occurred to either OF us: we should both stay.
This seemed possible for me- but not at that board,
those girls We went to the hotel, where we had
beefstcak and ham and eggs and hot biscuit every
we w
apiece a for the week we stayed AZ the end of this
home, where was welcomed as from years alb
Again was called to suffer this trial, the chief
trial Of my bOyhool, but it came in milder form:
and lightened to not only by the experience Of
time / went to D.. where one Of my uncles was
still living and he somehow learned the misery was
In and babe mo come and stay with him while re-
manned in d. was very fonA Of him. ard -
tho gentle creaurc his wife who stood to me for all
Of gracious loneliness and worldly splendor
They had an only child to whom her cousins pres,
all hung tho shadow Of fragile health and look back
tho remembrance cannot make them kinder than they
really Te s, We're WIN all that was homesic St
in my breast
began it with miserable tears. l had found that by
drinking good deal Of water at my meals I could
tised this device to the SURPRISE and arm Of my
relatives who were troubled at the spectacle Of my
Sometimes left the table, and ran out for burst
Of tears behind the house; every night after dark
cried there alone But / could not wholly hide my
suffering, and suppOse that after awhile the sight
of it became intoerable At any rate blessed even
ing camo when, returning from work. / found my
brother waiting for me at my uncles house: and the
next morning we set out for home in the keen silent
dark before tho Noveml or dawn.
We were both mounted on the italicfooted mare,
behind my brother, with my arms round him keep
on better. and so We rode out of the sleeping town
and into the lifting shadow Of the woods They
might have swaT1ned with ghosts. Indians; should
not have cared; was going home.
ByaDdby. as we rode the birds began to call
one another from their dreams; the quails whisted
from the stubble fields, and the clamorcd from
the fencerails. and in the woods they stopped half
way the bOles TO bark a. the jays strutted down
The shelving branches to offer passing insult and
defiance.
Presently, at little clearing, we came to a log
cabin; the blue smoke cured from its chimney, and
through the closed door came tho soft, low hum
of spinning-wheel The red and yellow leaves heavy
with the cold dew dripped round u.s. and was pro-
foundy at peace. The hOmesck will understand how
1t was that was as II saved from death.
At last we crossed the tal-race from the island |
and turned up not at the old log cabin but at the
front door of the house The family hal fitted
during my absence and now they All burst out upon
me In exultant welcome, and my mother caught me
to her heart Doubtless she knew that it would have
been better for me to have conquered myself; but
my defeat was dcarer to her than my triumph could
have BEEN She made me her hOnOred guest; hal tho
best place at the table the tenderest OF steak
the richest cup of her golden Coffee and all that day
! was company"